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Skeptical activism

Woman files a complaint after overspending for questionable treatments in Australia. Doctor sent woman for two years of new age healing in a galaxy far, far away for a cough — costing her $35,000 | dailytelegraph.com.au. When a doctor referred Ira McClure for further treatment she had no idea the health facility was supportive of…

It was a sad time, one year ago, as a person of great courage and resolve was killed in cold blood. One year later, Indian activist’s slaying still unsolved – LA Times. Thousands of protesters poured into city streets across India on Wednesday to mark the anniversary of the unsolved killing of a social activist…

It is not rare for purveyors of woo to resort to legal threats against skeptical advocates. They don’t have the facts in their favor so they use baseless threats. Well, not so baseless. Several cases have resulted in financial worries for those who are attempting to inform the public about dubious products, people or nonsense.…

Australia’s anti-vax network continues their underhanded deeds by sneaking their propaganda into info packs given to mothers of newborns. Low? No, not really, par for the course for this propaganda group. Queensland Health pulls Australian Vaccination-Skeptics leaflet from pregnancy pack | Gold Coast Bulletin. A LEAFLET promoting the Australian Vaccination-Sceptics Network (AVN) has been pulled…

This is a pretty good target for some skeptical activism. However, it’s going to take a large-scale effort to do something about Dr. Oz, the nation’s doctor, sad as that is. But, I think the clouds are forming over his head ever since his disgraceful display before a congressional hearing. Meet the medical student who…

The premier gathering for advocates of evidence-based skepticism and critical thinking, THE AMAZING MEETING (TAM), the annual conference run by the James Randi Education Foundation, took place from July 10-13 in Las Vegas. James (The Amazing) Randi, aged 85, one of the world’s greatest living magicians and conjurers, was very accessible throughout the several days, taking photos…

You know what? I’ve always thought Chip Coffey was yucky. No change now. He’s also a coward to continually dodge calls for him to show actual evidence for the ridiculous claims he makes. Why should he? He’ll just continue to enjoy the 300K people on his Facebook fan page and the many guest appearances he makes. Skeptics don’t…

The notoriously bad rag What Doctor’s Don’t Tell You has gone bonkers on their Facebook page. Nothing unusual there. Guy Chapman gives us an update of the nonsense going on as they decry skeptical activists who are making a difference (and causing WDDTY heartburn). WDDTY goes “the full Errol” @ Guy Chapman’s Blahg. The fake health…

The Center for Inquiry has requested in a letter to the head of the Food and Drug Administration requesting a reversal on its decision to green-light clinical trials of Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski. Stop Burzynski’s Dangerous Cancer Treatments, Science Advocates tell FDA | Center for Inquiry. The letter can be read here [PDF]. It states: It is our understanding…

In an update to this piece: A quacktastic piece of legislation in England and Wales (UPDATE: Revision), the debate about the Saatchi bill heated up last Friday in the U.K. The legislation to allow a “get out of jail free” pass to cancer quacks gained support from some reputable doctors. Others vehemently oppose this as misconceived…

A New Zealand skeptical activism group succeeds at getting a faith healing claim chastised and the advertisement removed. It may not be the most dramatic way to do activism but the law is the law, these claims were seen to be misleading. Your belief that God heals has no evidence to back it up, so…

What? More conspiracy nonsense making the rounds? I’m shocked! No I’m not. I’m tired of this s**t and that’s exactly what it is. It’s making people paranoid and STUPID. Conspiracy videos of 9/11 on Facebook: People should be responsible for what they share on social media. It’s 2:18 long, and it makes basically one claim:…

Last July, James Arthur Ray was freed from prison after serving 20 months for the negligent homicides of three followers from an incident in a sweat lodge procedure. Many more people were sickened. He was punished but now family members fear he will start the tactic again. They plan to do something about it. Family…

Hmm. This is very forward of this person and of RadarOnline to post this story accusing Long Island Medium Theresa Caputo of fraud. Not that I will defend her because I dislike the idea of all mediums especially ones that sell tickets to shows for ridiculous prices, but he had better have some ducks in…

A new paper was just published in the Journal of Language and Social Psychology that is further confirmation of something skeptics of the paranormal and alt med treatments have noticed for a long time. It’s called the “avowal of prior skepticism”. This is a narrative device used by a person telling a story in which…

So, I had this idea… Doubtful News could use a bit more “character”. I am currently working with an artist who is developing AL, a mascot for Doubtful News. Things are shaping up. The critter reflects the media and public reaction to strange news we get everyday. He’s a bit of a worrier and freaks out over anything…

A support group for alien abductees is meeting in the U.K. to provide mutual support for each other. Not only do they have a troublesome relationship with a society that might call them “crazy”, but they may be causing more harm to each other even with good intentions. Doubtful News contacted a volunteer who helps UFO…

Here is a great lesson for paranormalists: Make sure you exhaust all the avenues of “normal” before you conclude “paranormal”. In almost all cases, you CAN get to a sound explanation. Gallipoli ‘ghost’ an open and shutter case. Fairfax photographer Joe Armao spent an entire night studying the strange, hair-raising blur on one of his pictures…

It’s so very exciting to see the reverberation of the Creation-Evolution debate continuing. And I am very happy to see Skeptical Inquirer play a role in it. This current issue of SI has an exclusive piece written by Bill Nye, The Science Guy himself, discussing the behind-the-scenes goings on that took place before and during…

It’s THAT day again, where every headline and story must be doubted or you will end up looking like a fool. It’s also the day we take off here at Doubtful News and leave you to your own devices for sniffing out the bunkum. Don’t be a fool today or any other month…

We have had about a dozen posts on “Houston Cancer Quack” Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski. The fact is MANY more people think he is some kind of hero (including himself) by promoting this so-called cancer treatment antineoplastons. It’s also a fact that ANP have never been demonstrated to work as other cancer treatments have been documented.…

We sent the link to this story out yesterday in leftovers but Guy Chapman has written it up for us in a post worth reading. Thanks, Guy. If there’s one thing proponents of SCAM (Supplements, Complementary and Alternative Medicine) cannot stand, it’s objective unbiased information. Wikipedia’s policies have long mandated against giving undue weight to…

Recall the story about the Essex panther a week or so ago? It turned out to be a great example of skeptical investigation. David James who helped figure out it was likely just the neighbor’s dog has his own piece this week at the same paper. Support investigation into the truth by clicking on this…

We previously covered the accusations agains Errol Denton in the U.K. Denton ignores ASA regarding live blood analysis Errol of the Denton family is quacking in court Today, we got word from Guy Chapman about a conviction of the “Live Blood” practitioner. In a rare conviction of nine offenses under the Cancer Act 1939, fines and…